Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic believes Reds fans will heed pleas not to disgrace the club at Anfield on Sunday and respect an emotional day for Liverpool.

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic believes Reds fans will heed pleas not to disgrace the club at Anfield on Sunday and respect an emotional day for Liverpool.

The Merseyside showdown will be both poignant and highly-charged.

It is already regarded as one of the biggest derbies on the world football calendar and the fixture has had its fair share of controversy.

A minority of United fans let themselves down last weekend during the Wigan match when they chanted anti-Liverpool songs at Old Trafford.

Following the revelations of the Hillsborough Independent Panel last week, which absolved Liverpool fans of any blame for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final tragedy, the country paid tribute to the 96 victims and the battle for justice fought by their families.

United were disappointed by the chants at Old Trafford and now the eyes of the world will be on Sunday’s match which will be the first Anfield game since the panel’s findings.

Reds skipper Vidic and his Liverpool counterpart Steven Gerrard will release 96 balloons on the pitch before the match on Sunday.

“I am aware of the sensitivity of the day. Everybody is and I think our fans will respond well,” said Vidic.

“The whole country is on test in this one. All over the world they will be watching this game.

“It is probably the biggest derby in the world and we as players have to show we are capable of keeping a good atmosphere and being a good example to the kids.

“The fans have a big role as well. We both have a history and we’re both respected in the world. We have to keep it like that.

“It is difficult to control all the fans but I think most of them are aware of the responsibility. I don’t have doubts that they will support us well.

“I agree we have to go to the people and say don’t do anything bad. But I think they are going there to enjoy the football and to support their teams.

“I’ve been here at United for seven years and I think our fans always behave well and I think they will do it again. But we are on a test again.

“There is a lot of history with these two clubs. We have some history as well, we have some tragedies. They have as well. I think we should respect each other because we are big clubs and clubs that are respected in the world.

“We have to show an example and be on top of the bad situation and behave well and, I would say, be an example.

Example

“I think United fans are always an example of how they should behave. In Old Trafford, many times they have shown how they have respect for the other teams and respect for their own club as well.

“We as a club have shown many times in the past what we are about. I don’t think we should put so much pressure on our fans. We are proud of them and I think we will be on Sunday.

“On the pitch we have to take responsibility and play football. After this game everyone should be talking about the football and that’s all. I hope that will be the case. I don’t have many worries. I think it will be a good game. The big teams respect each other.”

There is also the issue of the lingering bad taste following the racism row last season involving Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing United’s Patrice Evra in the match at Anfield last October.

The Uruguayan subsequently refused to shake Evra’s hand in the pre-match ritual before the return league match at Old Trafford in February.

“To be fair, I don’t want to think about that. Obviously we want to focus on the game,” added Vidic. “We have a theme, what happened in history about the fans and we have to respect that day. We just go there to play football.

“If they shake hands, they shake hands – I don’t think it’s the most important thing in the world. I think it’s important to not do any stupid things in the game, to go there and play football – what we dream of, to play that derby and to be all about the football.”

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